Gadgetrepublic.com - Gadget Review

Green technology has been big in 2009, but unfortunately there haven't been many obvious examples of this in consumer technology. The Sony Ericsson Naite is a great example of how we can go eco-friendly without skimping on all the good things we've become used to in a phone: a good sized bright screen, easy web surfing, MP3 player and email.

So what's so green about the Naite? Well, to begin with, the packaging is minimal: the small cardboard box had none of the leaflets, booklets, Styrofoam and so on that we have come to expect and the user manual is digital-only and contained on the phone itself.

Green charger

The charger is quite good, too, because (like the newer Nokia ones) it alerts you when it the battery is full and beeps and flashes so you're not going to forget to unplug it plus it is designed to consume less power than the average charger.

It complies with Energy Star Level V and even if you leave it plugged in, standby power loss is less than 30mW.

Green body

The Naite handset itself is part of Sony Ericsson's Greenheart range and is as green as it gets: the housing is manufactured from recycled plastic and it contains no lead and less chemicals than the standard mobile phone.

Interestingly, the phones are coloured with waterborne paint, lessening the user's exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the water used for the paint is locally sourced.

Even the headset that comes with the phone is made from recycled plastics.

In fact, the Naite got a Green Award from UK consumer mobile magazine Mobile Choice in October of this year.

Is it any good?

Now that you're feeling all warm and fuzzy inside from the green credentials you're probably wondering how good the phone is. I decided to test the Naite slightly differently. I played with it myself and gave it to my technophobe mother to see if she could get to grips with it.

Mum's the word

After prising an ancient Nokia from her hands, I gave the Naite to my mother in the hopes she would finally update and have a phone with a nice colour screen, camera phone and internet access.

The first thing she asked was: "Will texting be difficult?" This is the thing that annoys most functional mobile-phone users who hate changing brands or models. I am pleased to announce she was texting as per usual within a day and was raving about how lightweight the phone was (84g) and the size of the screen (It's a 2.2-inch TFT QVGA).

I even got her to try out the camera, which is only two megapixels but does the job. Besides, she was more interested in having FM radio and the larger text on the interface and various menus also appealed to her (me, too, come to think of it, who wants to be squinting at text on a screen?).

My view

While this is certainly not a flashy bells-and-whistles touchscreen phone, it is just as useful in terms of email and web surfing (I do prefer a smart phone in terms of email integration and the mobile web experience but smart phones aren't for everyone).

However, with a lightweight slimline phone like this, I did expect better battery power than the application-heavy smart phone and I wasn't disappointed. The Naite will last for a few days of regular use before it needs a charge. Top performance.

There are also a few green additions that will appeal to the green guru in your life: there is a green calculator onboard for finding out your carbon footprint as well as a game called EcoMate with a cute virtual pet, a quiz and tips on how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

This phone is not one for the gadget freak but would be perfect for a green-conscious individual or indeed as a sturdy replacement phone for any technophobes or a first phone for children.

Pros: Great battery life, top green credentials

Cons: Only 2-megapixel camera

Photo: The Sony Ericsson Naite.

By Marie Boran